To all whom it mag/ concern Be it known that I, SARAH SonKIN, a subject of the Czar of Russia, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brassieres; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in corset covers or brassiercs.

One object of the invention is to so construct a brassiere that it will. perform the double function of a corset coverand brace for holding the shoulders of the wearer drawn back in proper position to prevent steeping.

Another object is to so construct a device of this character that it will force the shoulder blades or scapula: inward.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a tight fitting body garment having an elastic strip arranged across the back thereof with inelastic strips connected adjacent the ends of said elastic strip and adapted to extend under the bust of the wearer to assist in affording resistance to the elastic strip when stretched.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts to be herein after fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 "represents a perspective v1ew of this improved brassiere taken from the front; Fig.

Qis a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a 1011- gitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the straps in retracted position; Fig. 4 is a similar view with the straps shown stretched; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the strap carrying back portion.

In the embodiment illustrated a tight fitting corset cover or brassiere l is shown which may be of any ordinary or desired construction, being here shown provided with longitudinally extending reinforcing rows of stitching 2 around the body portion thereof, but obviously these may be Omitted if desired and the brassiere made plain throughout the body. I

The back B of the brassiere embodying this invention has one or more elastic straps as is usually employed for garters and the like, and they are of a length when stretched to their full extent equal to the width of the back of the garment to which they are to be applied, so that when in normal 'unstretched positiombefore being placed on the wearer, they will, be of less length thanthe width of the back of the garment, thereby causing a fullness at the center of said back between the unattached portions of the straps. T hese straps 3 are not only secured at their ends to the garment but are stitched longitudinally along the edges thereof from each end toward the center to form casings Jr for the reception of reinforcing or stiffening members 5 here shown in the form of covered steel strips similar to those employed in boning corsets. These stiffening membars 5, two of which are employed in con nectian with each strap 3, are arranged in the casings 4 and their inner ends are arranged in close proximity when the cover is removed from the wearer and the straps are in unstretched position, the combined length of the two reinforcing strips being substantially equal to the length of the strap in connection with which they are used before said strap is stretched, so that when the strap is placed under tension the ends of these reinforcing strips will be'separated at the center of the back of the garment. By so forming these elastic strips and connecting them with the garment and by placing the stiffening strips 5 in the casings formed thereby, when the garment is donned by the wearer the straps will be stretched to their full extent, and in addition to forcing the shoulders of the wearer back the reinforcing strips will bear on the shoulder blades or scapula: and force them inwardly, thereby assisting in causing the wearer to hold her shoulders in proper position.

elastic strips 3 and are secured at one end to the armholes of the garment at the rear thereof adjacent the connection of the strips 3' and are designed to pass forward under due pulling or binding of the front portion of the garment across the bust, such as would be likely to occur it these strips 6 and 7 were not employed and also to pre- Vent the front portions of the armholes from cutting into'the arms of the user.

From the above description it will be obvious that when the garment is not in use the strips will be contracted and the unstitched portions of the garment back B between the inner ends of the rows o fstitching which connect the straps to the garment and also form the casings 4, will form a fullness between said ends of the rows of stitching to provide for the stretching of the strips 3 when the garment is applied, and this fullness, v when said strips are so stretched to their full extent, will be straightened out to conform to the back of the wearer and present va smooth unpuckered appearance when in, use. From the above description it will thus be understood that this brassiere in addition to performing itsordinary'function of a corset cover, opcrates also as a brace for the wearer, forcing her to throw back her shoulders. in

proper position and thus prevent stoo'ping.

The inelastic strain resisting strips 6 and 7 render the garment comfort'ableby preventing the front portions of the armholes from cutting into the arms of the wearer and may be adjusted to ,afior greater or less resistance, according to the theuser.

By using the inelastic strips 6 and 7 and I passing them under the bust of the wearer,

it will not be necessary that the. front portion of the corset cover be made tight fitting,

as these strips will ofier the necessary re sistance to the stretching of the strips 3 wishes of without any strain being exerted on the front portion of the corset cover.

I claim 1. A body garment having an elastic strip extending transversely across the back thcrc of and secured at its opposite ends adJacent the armholes of the garment, said strip he-' 111g of a length less than the width of the garment back when it is in normal unstretched position, and corresponding in length to the width of said back when thestrip is stretched, and inelastic strips secured at one end to the rear portion of the armholes of the garment adjacent the connection of the ends of said elastic strip, said inelastic strips being adapted to pass around under the arms of the wearer to the front thereof and be secured together at their free ends under the bust of the wearer.

2. A tight "fitting body garment having a plurality of elastic strips extending trans-' yersely across the back thereof, said strips being spaced laterally from each other and secured at their opposite ends adjacent the opposite armholes of the garment and having rows of stitches extending longitudinally thereof in laterally spaced relation from their ends toward their center, said rows connecting said strips with the back of the garment and terminating at their inner ends at points spaced from each other, the strips when in unstretched position being of less length than the width of the garment back, thereby producing-in the garment between the unstitched portions of each strip a fullness to provide for the stretching of the stripswhen the garment is applied without danger of tearing the garment, inelastic strips each having one end inclined downwardly and inwardly and secured to the'rcar portion of the armholes of the garment ad-, jacent the connected ends of the elastic strips, said inelastic strips being adapted to pass under the arms of the wearer, and

below the bust of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. a